Walking through London's West End, you'll stumble upon Aldwych, a distinctive crescent-shaped street that curves elegantly between the Strand and Kingsway. The pronunciation might catch you off guard at first - it's "AWLD-witch" - but the name itself tells quite a story.

This area has layers of history beneath its bustling surface. Back in the 7th century, Anglo-Saxon traders established what they called Lundenwic here, essentially meaning "London trading town." The word "aldwych" translates to "old port," which gives you a sense of how vital this spot was for early London commerce. Hard to imagine now, with all the traffic and modern buildings, but this was once the port serving the City of London.

The street's unusual semi-circular design isn't just for show. It actually serves a practical purpose, helping to manage the gradient between different road levels - connecting the south end of Kingsway with the Strand. Today it forms part of the A4 route that eventually reaches Bristol.

What makes Aldwych particularly interesting is its mix of grand institutions and hidden stories. You've got the imposing India House and Australia House housing their respective High Commissions, the Waldorf Hilton adding a touch of old-world elegance, and two working theatres - the Aldwych Theatre and Novello Theatre. The London School of Economics has claimed several buildings along the street too.

Then there's the famous ghost station. The old Aldwych tube station, which opened in 1907 and closed in 1994, has become something of a legend. During the Blitz, it served as an air raid shelter and later stored precious artworks for safekeeping. These days, it's a popular filming location - you've probably seen it masquerading as an active station in various movies and TV shows without realizing it.

The area feels quite grand, especially with Christopher Wren's St Clement Danes church marking the eastern end and the Royal Courts of Justice nearby. Discover all the secrets of Aldwych with our complete London audio guide - there are stories tucked into every corner that you might miss just walking through.

It's one of those London streets where the past and present coexist quite naturally, though the constant flow of buses and black cabs certainly dominates the immediate experience.